Unleaded fuels testing not expected to be complete until 2020

In an update from the FAA on the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI), which is the agency’s quest for an unleaded avgas, FAA officials now say the completion of testing of the new fuel isn’t expected until mid-2020.

According to FAA officials, Phase 1 and 2 testing of the fuels from Shell and Swift Fuels “revealed unique issues with each fuel that needed to be addressed.”

In response, officials provided a list of issues that needed to be better understood and mitigated in order for the fuels to move forward in the program.

During that timeframe, PAFI flight testing and some engine testing was halted, resulting in a delay in testing completion from December 2018 to mid-2020.

In early September 2018 Swift suspended its work in the PAFI program to “pursue another fuel outside the program,” FAA officials report.

Swift Fuels’ D’Acosta and another company employee with one of the company’s fuel trucks.

“Shell continued to actively work to optimize its fuel formulation within their specification to mitigate identified issues,” FAA officials say. “Early results from these efforts appear promising.”

In response to Shell’s efforts to mitigate identified issues, Phase 2 testing of this fuel will resume this fall.

“Despite the delay of testing completion, the PAFI mission endures and both FAA and industry partners continue their commitment to successfully evaluating and identifying unleaded fuel candidates that can be authorized for use by the vast majority of the GA piston engine fleet,” FAA officials said in the update. “Although it will take additional time to realize this goal, it is essential to ensure a viable, safe, and economical fuel is ultimately authorized.

Meanwhile, the FAA and industry continue to pursue alternatives outside of the PAFI program.

Other companies working on high-octane unleaded fuel continue to work with the FAA “on a non-interference basis to the ongoing PAFI program,” agency officials said.

“The FAA invited the fuel producers currently developing high-octane unleaded fuels to bring their data to the FAA for evaluation and a screening process is underway,” officials said. “Those that pass the screening process will participate in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) testing program utilizing a sub-set of the PAFI testing. The testing is anticipated to include detonation and some performance testing at the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center.”

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Comments

Auto gasoline, which used to contain at least 2.2 grams of tetraethyl lead per liter, has been phased out.

Now, the push is to eliminate lead in all avgas. Current aircraft engines were designed and certified for operation using leaded fuel. So a new host of unknown ramifications will be unleashed if unleaded fuel becomes the new requirement. Lab testing be damned……only time in the “real world” will tell.

But my basic question is why such time, manpower and money is being expended on this unleaded effort when the avgas consumption in the U. S. is but 1/10th of one percent of the total gasoline usage? Any environmental improvement would be microscopic at best. There are better things to spend our tax dollars on!